Hockey Ratings: Division I Title Propels Fairfield Prep To Top Spot

For the second straight year and fourth time since 2008, Fairfield Prep is the top team in The Courant's final high school hockey ratings.

After bouncing around the top five all season while never holding the top spot, the Jesuits claim the No. 1 rating after winning their 16th state championship and ninth since 2000. Led by Vinny D'Amore, Prep defeated Darien 2-1 in overtime Saturday to win the Division I title.

Glastonbury is the top area team in the ratings after returning to the quarterfinals and losing 4-3 to Fairfield Prep. The Tomahawks won the CCC North regular season, but fell in the tournament final to East Catholic-Manchester. South Windsor also makes its first appearance in the ratings after upsetting fifth-seeded Ridgefield in the first round to get back to the quarterfinals.

1. Fairfield Prep (16-4-3): Won three one-goal tournament games to capture its second straight Division I championship. Last rating: 4.

2. Darien (22-4-1): Banner season for the program ended with losses in the FCIAC championship and Division I final. LR: 2.

3. Notre Dame-Fairfield (18-5-1): Returned to Yale for the Division I semifinals for the first time since 2008. LR: 1.

4. Notre Dame-West Haven (15-7-1): Green Knights fell to rival Fairfield Prep in the tournament for the the second straight year (3-2 overtime loss in the semifinals). LR: 3.

5. New Canaan (19-5-1): Won the FCIAC championship over Darien, but fell in the quarterfinals of the Division I tournament to Notre Dame-West Haven. LR: 6.

6. Glastonbury (17-7): Advanced to the Division I quarterfinals for the fifth time in eight seasons. LR: 7.

7. East Haven (17-5): Got its first Division I tournament win in six years over West Haven before losing 11-1 to Notre Dame-Fairfield in the quarterfinals. LR: 8.

8. South Windsor (9-11-2): Ended the year with 7-6 record in final 13 games after starting the season 2-6-2. LR: not rated.

9.. West Haven (11-9-1): Was beat 7-2 in the first round by East Haven after winning five of its last six to get into the tournament. LR: 9.

10. Ridgefield (17-6): Fell 2-1 in overtime to South Windsor in the first round of the Division I tournament for the biggest upset. LR: 5.